The Black Keys Lead Bluesfest 2015 Lineup

The Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015 lineup has just landed, and the festival has delivered another massive serving of some of today’s hottest acts in blues, folk, soul, jazz, and roots music, headlined by return visitors and Australian tour favourites The Black Keys.

When The Black Keys first performed at Bluesfest nine years ago, they were an indie favourite staging tours in local venues. Since then, they’ve redefined what it means to blow up, with a platinum-selling album, countless sold-out arena shows, festival headlining spots, and seven Grammy nods.

Although they’re regular visitors to our shores, this will be The Black Keys’ first Australian tour since 2012. It will also be their first since the release of latest record Turn Blue. The band teased an early 2015 Australian tour in May this year.

UPDATE 02/09/14: The Black Keys have announced a massive Australian headline tour while in the country for Bluesfest. Details here.

Also helping kick off Bluesfest’s traditional non-stop wave of artist announcements are Alabama Shakes, making their Bluesfest debut, “US roots based pop band” Train, and George Clinton, who will introduce all 22 members of his massive ParliamentFunkadelic crew to Byron next Easter. Prepare for epic 3-hour sets.

The award-winning five-day event is held annually over the Easter long weekend at the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just north of Byron Bay. Organisers have kicked off the first of a series of announcements that will be rolled out in the lead-up to the festival’s 26th instalment with an array of international heavyweights, certified national treasures, returning favourites, and some exceptional Bluesfest newcomers.

Paul Kelly will be bringing his Merri Soul Sessions to life onstage, with the likes of Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, and Vika & Linda Bull set to join him for what’s sure to be a brilliant performance. Meanwhile, Xavier Rudd will have his own showcase, The United Nations, featuring musicians from all over the world.

Rounding out the first Bluesfest lineup announcement are the return of Michael Franti & Spearhead and Beth Hart, the folks from Rockwiz continuing their traditional Bluesfest live show, as well as Rebelution, Soja, Mariachi El Bronx, Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, Band Of Skulls, and many more.

Tickets for Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015 are on sale now and available via the official Bluesfest website and official ticketing outlets (see all details below). As usual, there are plenty of one-day and complete experience packages, as well as camping and VIP options available to suit any punter’s needs.

UPDATE 14/10/14: The second artist lineup for Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015 has been revealed, and is led by the reunion of Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals. Updated lineup available below.

UPDATE 17/12/14: Bluesfest has added another 11 acts to its 2015 lineup. View the updated lineup, below.

Watch: The Black Keys – Just Got to Be

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires

Augie March

Donavon Frankenreiter

Melbourne Ska Orchestra

Justin Townes Earle

Declan Kelly Presents Diesel n’Dub (Featuring Emma Donovan, Alex Lloyd, Pat Powell, Radical Son, Tony Hughes)

Ash Grunwald

Blue King Brown

The Beautiful Girls

Steve Smyth

Karl S. Williams

Lenny Kravitz

The Gipsy Kings (feat. Nicolas Reyes & Tonino Baliardo)

Rodrigo Y Gabriela

Jurassic 5

John Mayall

Keb Mo

Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin with the Guilty Ones

JJ Grey & Mofro

Tony Joe White

Jon Cleary

Trevor Hal

Serena Ryder

Jake Shimabukuro

Music Maker Foundation (feat. Cool John Ferguson, Little Freddie King, Alabama Slim, George Stancell)

Michael Franti’s Soulshine

Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals

Paolo Nutini

David Gray

Ben Howard

Counting Crows

Jimmy Cliff

Mavis Staples

Gary Clark Jr

Dispatch

Ruthie Foster

The Beat

Keziah Jones

Playing For Change

The Black Keys

Zac Brown Band

Alabama Shakes

Train

Michael Franti & Spearhead

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions feat Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, & Vika And Linda Bull

Xavier Rudd and The United Nations

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Rebelution

Soja

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Beth Hart

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls

Mariachi El Bronx

G. Love & Special Sauce

Pokey Lafarge

Band Of Skulls

Rockwiz Live

+ more to be announced

Thursday, 2nd April – Monday, 6th April 2015

Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay NSW

Tickets: Byron Bay Bluesfest | Moshtix | Ticketmaster

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